River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-12-22

culinary skill and general ability. Hence
the frivolous youth of yarmouth insisted
that 1t was simply matter of time as to the
ultimate matrimonial results.
Three times year Mrs Mack had been
In the habit OF giving DR. Blake warming"
In more or less imprisoned terms. The
alleged causes were sins Of omission or com
mission on the respective parts of the shred
help" Bob. the office boy, and Miss DORIS
Lane, the Doctors nineteen-year- old ward
Ii was the morning after Christmas Day
in the year of grace 1SS-. DR.. Blake was
in his library and office combined, hoping
for quiet hour with the Lancet. which he
held In his hand with pages uncut, as Mrs
Mack, whose black eyes were swapping ON
inousy, fungi use the word advisedly-
into the room
With a premonition of what was coming
the Doctor lad aside the pamphlet
We'll, Mrs. Mack" he said, YEARLY,
@which-that is, Who'll mean, what is it
now?"
This day week, DR. Blake, either Miss
Doris or leave-you can choose between
us, responded the Widow Mack, with om-
inous calmness. Barring the name of the
offender, her formula of warning was al
ways the same. Possibly she dreamed that
by patient persistence in this line the Doc
tor in some unguarded moment might be
led TO say: SThen, Mrs Mack, my advice
will be-yourselEp
Why not? The widow only acknowledged
TO thirty-six, her figure was trim, her face
not uncomely and she held property in her
own right In addition TO this her cookery
was unequaled, and 8 itnot recorded that
masculine hearts untouched by personal
charms have been reached through the yul-
gar medium of the stomach?
Not being the dirt under Miss Doris
feet, acrimon ously continued Mrs Mack,
before DIR. Blake could sp sak, II don't pro
pose beng trod on no longer. The idear'
said the irate lady, with a backward toss of
her head; ordering me out OF her studyer
just because said her gongs on with your
nevew, Paul Blake, was SC .ndalous! Things
have come TO pretty pass in his house, ]
think!'
DR.. Blake groaned in spirit as Mrs
Mack slammed the door behind her.
why can't she let Doris alone" he NUT
tered, and when he said "Doris" il was with
a peculiarly tender infection. But that,
perhaps, was because of the semi-parental
relation in which he pretended to stand
toward her.
Dr.. Blake communed with himself for a
moment or two and then, laying aside the
cur opsly in the glass over the manteL
You're nothing but an old fool, Paul
Blake" he said, turning abruptly away. Yel
the earnest. scholarly face and dark inscrut-
able eyes which had returned his brief
glance were by no means deserving of sue a
scathing remark But in COMPARISON with
his nephew, Paul Blake, the doctor regarded
himself as a modern Methuselah.
Doris Vane's study er" was rather coy
interior formed by parting portion of the
attic proper with some faded chintz cur
tains rummaged out from the big cedar
wood chest in the corner. One of the hang
mgs was pushed back for better side light
and DR.. Blake, who had soughe the attic
with view of reconciling Doris and Mrs
Mack, stood still at the head of the stairs
regarding the chintz- framed picture before
dim.
Under the sky-light in the roof was an
easel supporting partly finished portrait
In oil Before it, holding palette and
mahl-stick in rest stood pretty Doris the
graceful outlines of whose figure even the
ugly blue bOttomed blouse reaching to her
feet could not hide.
Reclining at ease in an old armchair near
the little alright stove which served to
warm the interior, was Paul Blake the
doctors goOd-lookIng artist nephew, twir,-
ing an unlighted cigarette between his slim
while fingers
Before Doctor Blake could step forward
30 announce his presence, Paul spOke-evi-
IDENTITY dpropos of some thing under discus
sion.
Its no use talking, Doris, he said, some
what peUulantly. III uncle Paul won't give
his consent to our marriage. as yOu seem TO
think, why we must do without it. that's
all"
Doctor Blake turned very pale as he
heard these words not intend ID for his ear
But pulling himself together with an effort,
he stepped forward.
At his unexpected appearance Doris
gave a sudden start and, crimsoning TO her
fair temple, threw cloth over the portrait
But not before Doctor Blake had caught
z impse of his nephew's broad white fore
head and expressive eyes
The Doctor. pretending to have hear and
seen nothing, greeted Paul with his usual
sassy courtesy. But that usually self-pos-
So